CORVALLIS, Ore. --- UC Irvine exploded for five runs in the fifth inning and went on to defeat UNLV, 10-3, in the opening game of the NCAA Corvallis Regional at Goss Stadium Friday afternoon.

"It's win number one in a regional, so we're fired up to get that win," said head coach Mike Gillespie. "It was a combination, as everyone in this room saw, of some big hits and a lot of opportunities. All coaches and all teams take the pledge to just give people three outs per inning, and there were a few free-bees this game, and we were able to capitalize on a few of them."

The third-seeded Anteaters (36-22) broke a 2-2 tie with their outburst in the fifth.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Chris Rabago was hit by a pitch to bring home Adam Alcantara from third, giving UCI the lead for good at 3-2.